WEBVTT 00:00:00.820 --> 00:00:04.660 Thanks very much, Paul. Good morning, everyone. I'd repeat the welcome that Paul gave you. 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:08.919 We're delighted to have you with us today as we worship and as we learn. 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:15.919 We're continuing our series looking at Luke's Gospel, Luke's Gospel which was written to 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:19.039 give an accurate account of the life of the Lord Jesus. 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:24.480 We're coming today to a slight change in Luke's Gospel, slight but distinct, I think. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:28.780 For the last eight chapters or so, if we've gone through Luke, we've had material that 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:31.920 is almost all unique to Luke. It was only in Luke's Gospel. 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:39.260 For the next few chapters, we're rejoining Matthew and Mark who have similar content to Luke 00:00:39.260 --> 00:00:43.000 and we'll have things in all three Gospels. Now what does that mean in practice? 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:50.079 What it means in practice is when you read Luke, Luke loves telling stories or recounting the stories of Jesus. 00:00:50.980 --> 00:00:54.900 So for the last month or two, a lot of what we've been looking at on Sunday mornings 00:00:54.899 --> 00:00:58.839 has been stories that Jesus told. Wonderful stories they are too. 00:00:59.339 --> 00:01:04.079 The Good Samaritan, the Lost Sheep, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus and so on. 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:05.620 Many, many stories. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:10.560 For the next section in Luke's Gospel, tracking Matthew and Mark, 00:01:11.099 --> 00:01:14.459 it will be much more encounters of Jesus with people. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:19.460 So it's not telling stories about people as much of what the last few chapters has been about. 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:23.459 It is what Jesus said to people and how we help them. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:27.659 So we're talking today about real children and a real young man. 00:01:27.759 --> 00:01:31.879 It's not just stories that Jesus told. Wonderful though they are. 00:01:32.679 --> 00:01:36.959 So we're reading in Luke chapter 18 and we're going to start reading at verse 15. 00:01:37.060 --> 00:01:40.659 Luke chapter 18 and reading from verse 15. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:42.079 And it says, 00:01:42.079 --> 00:02:11.620 A certain ruler asked him, 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:16.560 Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.320 Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:23.500 No one is good except God alone. 00:02:24.900 --> 00:02:25.740 You know the commandments. 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:27.820 You shall not commit adultery. 00:02:28.600 --> 00:02:30.439 You shall not murder. You shall not steal. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:32.020 You shall not give false testimony. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:34.340 Honor your father and mother. 00:02:35.640 --> 00:02:38.600 All these I have kept since I was a boy, he said. 00:02:39.600 --> 00:02:41.760 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:44.520 You still lack one thing. 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:47.740 Sell everything you have and give to the poor. 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:50.280 And you will have treasure in heaven. 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:53.460 Then come, follow me. 00:02:53.460 --> 00:02:57.800 When he heard this, he became very sad because he was very wealthy. 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:00.860 Jesus looked at him and said, 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:05.200 How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. 00:03:06.140 --> 00:03:09.400 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:13.660 than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:16.099 Those who are at this asked, 00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:17.639 Who then can be saved? 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:19.319 Jesus replied, 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:23.039 What is impossible with man is possible with God. 00:03:24.079 --> 00:03:25.219 Peter said to him, 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:27.900 We have left all we had to follow you. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:30.819 Truly I tell you, Jesus said to them, 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:35.859 No one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children 00:03:35.859 --> 00:03:37.799 for the sake of the kingdom of God 00:03:37.799 --> 00:03:41.259 will fail to receive many times as much in this age 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:45.259 and in the age to come, eternal life. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:48.519 I'm sure God will help us as we seek to understand 00:03:48.519 --> 00:03:51.060 what he's saying to us this morning. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:55.359 Sometimes it's helpful to look at things from a different angle, 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:57.320 to get a different perspective, 00:03:57.740 --> 00:04:00.200 which might give us fresh insights. 00:04:01.540 --> 00:04:02.460 I like this map. 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:04.820 It's an upside down map of the world. 00:04:04.920 --> 00:04:09.380 It's also kind of rotated a bit around 180 degrees east to west. 00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:11.420 When you look at a map like this, 00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:15.380 you notice things that you might miss on a normal map of the world. 00:04:15.480 --> 00:04:16.580 Isn't Russia enormous? 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:18.780 It's the yellow bit down near the bottom. 00:04:18.780 --> 00:04:22.480 It's Canada huge, the pink bit on the bottom left. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:26.200 And doesn't the United Kingdom look totally insignificant 00:04:26.200 --> 00:04:28.960 when it's two-thirds of the way down the right-hand side 00:04:28.960 --> 00:04:31.620 rather than in the centre near the top? 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:35.200 You look at it differently and you get a different view, 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:38.540 you get a different perspective on life. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:42.100 I think here in this passage we're looking at, 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:44.480 Jesus is turning things upside down 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:48.780 to give his disciples and others a different view of life. 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:53.759 He's saying, you have views that are in line with the things of this world. 00:04:54.299 --> 00:04:56.139 You think that rich people are important. 00:04:56.779 --> 00:04:58.939 You think that children are relatively insignificant. 00:04:59.599 --> 00:05:01.359 Well, I'm turning it on his head. 00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:04.439 And in God's world, which he calls the kingdom of God, 00:05:04.779 --> 00:05:07.679 in God's world, things are different. 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:12.019 And the people who God values are those who depend on him 00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:16.379 and who aren't relying on themselves for their future. 00:05:17.479 --> 00:05:21.139 And so we have these two incidents with the Lord Jesus. 00:05:22.159 --> 00:05:25.419 And I think if we can just summarise what we're going to say this morning, 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:28.899 that these incidents teach us that the importance, 00:05:29.019 --> 00:05:32.379 the importance that Jesus attaches to simple faith 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:34.479 and to sacrificial followers. 00:05:34.659 --> 00:05:38.060 Simple faith and sacrificial followers. 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:43.160 Let's go through them and see if you feel that's a reasonable summary 00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:46.319 of what the Lord Jesus is teaching. 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:49.920 So to begin with, we have some people who are bringing babies 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:52.959 or young children to Jesus for him to lay their hands, 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:55.259 him to lay his hands on them. 00:05:56.759 --> 00:05:58.319 I don't think there's healing involved here. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.220 Sometimes Jesus touched people to heal them. 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:02.899 They were being brought so that Jesus could bless them. 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.379 And as a symbol of the blessing that he was giving to them, 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:08.620 he was putting his hand probably on their head. 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:10.600 Quite a common thing to do in that day, 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:13.379 which still perhaps happens to some extent today. 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:19.120 And the disciples are really quite upset and annoyed at this. 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:23.740 They're saying, well, don't let these children distract Jesus. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:26.620 Jesus is on a really important mission. 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:30.319 He's giving some really vital teaching that we need to learn 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:31.899 and others need to hear. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:33.439 And here these people are. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:37.180 They're bringing these kids along and they're distracting Jesus' attention 00:06:37.180 --> 00:06:40.800 and they really shouldn't be doing that. 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:46.519 Jesus says, no, these children are important. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:51.300 These children are so important that the kingdom of God, 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:55.779 God's world belongs to people like these. 00:06:57.100 --> 00:07:00.180 Now, in Jesus' day, children would have an even lower status 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:01.680 than they do today. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:05.360 If you were a child, you'd be treated almost as a possession of your parents. 00:07:05.819 --> 00:07:08.199 You would expect to be seen and not heard, 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:11.060 to listen and learn, to be respectful, 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:14.960 and would have been treated as someone who was relatively insignificant. 00:07:14.960 --> 00:07:16.720 When you got to about 12 or 13, 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:18.759 you became an adult in that culture 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:20.759 and you took on an extra significance. 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:23.680 But children, as such, weren't valued 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:27.019 and were seen as being relatively unimportant. 00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:31.459 And Jesus says, no, children matter. 00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:38.699 Children have a real value and we should recognize that value and treasure them. 00:07:39.339 --> 00:07:41.859 So a very important lesson for the disciples here, 00:07:42.299 --> 00:07:43.839 that they would be looking at saying, 00:07:44.180 --> 00:07:48.240 Jesus should be spending his time on adults and people who can listen and understand 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:50.339 and have dialogue with them. 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:57.539 And Jesus says, no, the time I spend with children is really important and really valuable 00:07:57.539 --> 00:08:02.139 because the kingdom of God belongs to people such as those. 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:05.519 Very obvious and simple lesson for us. 00:08:05.919 --> 00:08:08.699 We have lots of children around our church. 00:08:08.799 --> 00:08:11.859 More coming and plenty here already. 00:08:11.860 --> 00:08:16.160 Do we really value and treasure them? 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:18.900 Or do we see them as a bit of a nuisance, 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:23.420 as those who run around that we don't really have very much to do with? 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:27.100 Time spent with children is time well invested. 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:31.560 And as a church, we should be treasuring, valuing, 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:35.200 and nurturing the children who are among us. 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:37.860 Supporting Peter and the team in the work they do, 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.840 and if we can't do it actively in our prayers, 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:44.759 and taking a real interest in the children when we come across them in the church. 00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:49.840 Jesus treasures children, and we should as well. 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:54.759 That's not the main lesson that Jesus is bringing us here. 00:08:55.420 --> 00:08:57.740 Because he says, truly, I say, 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:03.660 anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. 00:09:04.400 --> 00:09:08.379 So it's not the value of a child that he's particularly highlighting here, 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:09.580 although he does that. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:15.220 He's saying the children perhaps have value and certainly should be looked at and respected 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:21.080 because of the simple faith, because of the trust that they have. 00:09:22.160 --> 00:09:24.879 Now, children, we know, can be really naughty. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:28.040 They can do things that we don't want. 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:28.980 They can be selfish. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:32.399 They can be quite unkind to one another, and so on. 00:09:32.420 --> 00:09:33.740 So Jesus isn't saying here, 00:09:34.060 --> 00:09:38.600 children are wonderful, and there's never anything wrong with them. 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:42.120 He's not suggesting they're in any way innocent, if you like. 00:09:42.920 --> 00:09:49.120 But he is saying, I think, that children have that simple trust that we need to look at 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:51.940 and we need to take for ourselves. 00:09:52.540 --> 00:09:54.259 You see, if in a child with his parents, 00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:57.540 in pictures, they have a child holding someone's hand. 00:09:57.539 --> 00:10:00.679 And if you see a parent and child walking along the street, 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:05.799 you can see the trust that the child has in the parent and their dependence on them. 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:10.039 Children don't think they can do everything for themselves. 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:15.240 They don't think they can be self-sufficient and they don't need anyone else. 00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:21.019 They know that they need others and they know that they need to put their trust in them. 00:10:21.019 --> 00:10:25.600 And so Jesus says, for us to enter the kingdom of God, 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:32.879 we need to become like children in knowing that we need something that we can't provide for ourselves, 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:38.139 and then in trusting God, trusting the Lord Jesus to give that to us. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:44.699 And that's something that is basically described in this passage as receiving the kingdom, 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:48.199 as being saved, as having eternal life. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:51.520 They really all in this context mean much the same thing. 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:55.300 That we need God, we need the Lord Jesus, 00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:59.080 because we can't by ourselves get to heaven. 00:10:59.660 --> 00:11:05.300 We can't by ourselves do enough good things to help me all the bad things we've done. 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:09.640 We need to recognize that only through the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross, 00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:11.680 which we'll be remembering later on, 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:14.780 only through that and by simple trust in him, 00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:16.339 can we be forgiven? 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:18.419 Can we have eternal life? 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:22.279 Can we be part of the kingdom of God? 00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:26.339 And if we ever begin to think we can do it by our own efforts, 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:30.240 we've totally missed the point of the teaching of the Lord Jesus, 00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:32.139 of the whole of the Bible, 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:34.419 of the truth that God says to us, 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.379 which is that we are helpless sinners. 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:37.839 We've done wrong. 00:11:37.939 --> 00:11:39.939 We can't put ourselves right before God. 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:41.940 But God has provided a way, 00:11:42.380 --> 00:11:45.480 and we need to accept that way. 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:48.740 You don't need a theological degree to be a Christian. 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:49.880 Theological degrees are great. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:52.020 Don't think I put him down in any kind of way. 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.700 Theological degrees are great, 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:55.280 but to become a Christian, 00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:56.080 to be saved, 00:11:56.160 --> 00:11:57.260 to have eternal life, 00:11:57.520 --> 00:11:59.080 all you need to understand 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:01.540 is that you're a sinner before God, 00:12:01.660 --> 00:12:03.400 that you deserve to be punished, 00:12:03.780 --> 00:12:05.300 that Jesus took that punishment, 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:07.379 and by trusting in him, 00:12:07.599 --> 00:12:08.839 you can be saved, 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:11.759 you can have eternal life. 00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:14.839 We need to have the trust of a child. 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:18.399 We need to have a simple faith. 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:21.079 And as we come on to the second story, 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:23.279 it's precisely what this young man, 00:12:23.339 --> 00:12:24.819 this ruler, lacked. 00:12:25.459 --> 00:12:27.399 He lacked a simple faith 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:30.339 because he thought that he could do things 00:12:30.339 --> 00:12:32.779 that would put him right with God. 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:34.579 So we have this man. 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.579 He's described in Luke 00:12:35.579 --> 00:12:36.860 as being a certain ruler. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:40.000 He's described later on as being very rich. 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:42.539 Matthew tells us he was young. 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:46.720 He was someone who had some status in society. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.439 We don't know precisely 00:12:48.439 --> 00:12:49.879 what kind of ruler he was. 00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:51.279 I think it's probably more likely 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:52.319 he was a civil ruler 00:12:52.319 --> 00:12:53.699 rather than a religious one. 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:54.819 They would probably have said 00:12:54.819 --> 00:12:56.480 if he was a ruler of the synagogue 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.579 or something like that. 00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:59.399 So he probably was a senior official 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:01.399 or perhaps even a member 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:02.779 of the royal household. 00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:03.759 We don't know, 00:13:04.059 --> 00:13:05.039 but he was someone 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:07.899 who was in that country important. 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:10.799 He was also someone who was rich. 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.799 He had, for whatever reason, 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:14.220 acquired lots of money. 00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:15.980 And on top of that, 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:17.659 he wasn't just important and rich. 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:19.500 He also appears to have been 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:23.159 a morally upright and good person. 00:13:23.699 --> 00:13:25.299 So he wasn't some kind of 00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:26.379 crap civil servant 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:28.220 or dodgy politician. 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.600 He was someone who had lived a life 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:31.879 trying to please God 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:33.680 and trying to do his best, 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:36.019 but still he's not sure 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:37.980 that he's got eternal life. 00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:40.360 He looks at everything he's done 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.240 and he says, 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:42.820 maybe there's something missing. 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.879 Maybe there's some big gesture 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.740 I could make. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:48.540 Jesus, what do I have to do 00:13:48.540 --> 00:13:49.920 that I'm not already doing 00:13:49.920 --> 00:13:52.460 to receive eternal life? 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:54.940 Now, I suspect a lot of the people 00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:56.399 when that man came to Jesus 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.480 thought, well, 00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:59.259 why does he have to do anything more? 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.439 He's rich. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.759 In that society, 00:14:01.939 --> 00:14:03.159 being rich was seen as being 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:04.879 very much a sign of God's favor 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.360 that you'd done something 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:07.620 to deserve it. 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.120 He was moral. 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:10.779 He could go through it 00:14:10.779 --> 00:14:11.679 the Lord questioned him. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.319 He could go through 00:14:12.319 --> 00:14:13.659 the five commandments 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:14.939 that the Lord brings out 00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:15.819 and he could say, 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:17.299 yes, I've kept all of them 00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:19.299 since I was young. 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:20.960 And people would be looking at him 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:21.460 and thinking, 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:23.779 here is exactly the kind of person 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.600 the kingdom of God belongs to. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:27.360 Exactly the kind of person 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.779 who should earn God's favor 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:30.200 because he's good 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:32.940 and God has blessed him. 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:36.060 But Jesus looks on his heart 00:14:36.060 --> 00:14:38.580 and he sees something different. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.180 So he begins by slightly 00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.879 rebuking him and saying, 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:44.080 well, why do you call me good? 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:46.320 No one's good except God. 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:48.139 Now, perhaps in saying that, 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:49.340 the Lord Jesus was trying 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.620 to draw it of this man 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.840 whether he believed 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.940 that Jesus really was God. 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:55.300 Might have been what the Lord 00:14:55.300 --> 00:14:56.519 was trying to do. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.220 The Lord then says, 00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:58.860 well, how do you read 00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.440 the commandments? 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:01.340 What are the important commandments? 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:02.980 And he says, 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:04.120 the Lord Jesus said, 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:04.820 here are five. 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:05.840 You shall not commit a doubt. 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:06.620 You shall not murder. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.420 You shall not steal. 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:09.180 You shall not give false testimony. 00:15:09.780 --> 00:15:11.680 Honor your father and mother. 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:12.700 Now, as you know, 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:13.840 there are 10 commandments 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.320 and lists in Exodus 20. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.960 The Lord Jesus has chosen five. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.420 He's chosen the five 00:15:18.420 --> 00:15:20.040 that particularly relate 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:22.139 to our relationships with others. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.899 Not the ones especially 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.759 relate to our relationship 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.579 with God 00:15:25.579 --> 00:15:26.919 or in our thoughts, 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.959 the one about coveting 00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:29.240 at the end, 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:30.480 but our relationship 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.919 with other people. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.579 Which I guess is one 00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:34.620 that people could look at 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.439 and they could say, 00:15:35.719 --> 00:15:36.639 well, we've seen evidence 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.740 that this man is good. 00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:39.099 He doesn't do these things 00:15:39.099 --> 00:15:40.919 we're told not to. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:42.480 And so the man says, 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:43.519 well, I've kept all these. 00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:44.579 I'm fine. 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:45.759 Since I was a boy, 00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:46.959 since I was a young man, 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:48.259 I have been keeping 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:50.180 all these commands. 00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:52.700 Jesus then says, 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.900 good, well done, 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:58.320 but what you need to do now 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.100 is to give up all your money 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:02.480 and give it to the poor. 00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:03.720 He says, 00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:06.759 beyond the kind of religious keeping 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.080 of God's ordinances 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.160 and trying to keep on the right track 00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:11.000 by yourself, 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:13.180 you need to really demonstrate 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:15.360 that God means more to you 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.659 than anything else. 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:17.919 And in particular, 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.399 since you're a rich person, 00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:22.159 does God mean more to you 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:24.259 than your money? 00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:27.039 And when it came to the bit, 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.740 the young man had to think 00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:29.279 and say, 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:32.080 no, God doesn't mean more to me 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:33.120 than my money. 00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:35.659 I'm willing to do big gestures. 00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:36.379 I'm willing to try 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:37.460 and live a good life, 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:39.659 but I'm not willing to give up 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.539 my lifestyle 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:43.100 and the money that I have. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.100 Ultimately for him, 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.680 treasure on earth 00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:48.139 was more important 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:50.480 than treasure in heaven. 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:53.159 It was more important to him 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:54.259 that he should continue 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.279 to be able to live 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.419 a good lifestyle in this world 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:58.980 than that he should 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:00.360 have the assurance 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:02.680 of eternal life. 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:04.279 Now, Lord Jesus isn't saying to him, 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.220 do all this 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.160 and that will earn you 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.880 eternal life. 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.680 That is not the point 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.480 of what he's saying, 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.000 but he is challenging him 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.500 and saying, 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:12.660 what is more important to you, 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:14.779 is this world more important 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:16.620 or is God 00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:17.880 and serving him 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:19.120 more important? 00:17:20.040 --> 00:17:20.820 Challenge for us there, 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.120 I think, 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.060 as well this morning. 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.960 What really matters 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:24.920 to me? 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.360 If push comes to shove, 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.180 what are the important things 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:30.920 in my life? 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:32.720 Is it maintaining 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.779 my lifestyle? 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.580 Is it keeping 00:17:34.580 --> 00:17:36.200 a reasonable standard 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:36.800 of living 00:17:36.800 --> 00:17:38.040 and being able 00:17:38.040 --> 00:17:39.600 to live in the style 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.859 that I've maybe become 00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:42.079 accustomed to? 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.259 Is it my friends 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.980 or my family? 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:46.000 Is that what is most 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.500 important to me? 00:17:48.439 --> 00:17:49.519 Is it progression 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.319 in my job 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.139 or whatever else 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:51.599 I'm doing? 00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:52.379 Is that the thing 00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:53.539 that really drives me 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:55.359 and is most important 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.759 in my life? 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:58.579 Or actually, 00:17:58.679 --> 00:17:59.179 am I willing 00:17:59.179 --> 00:17:59.799 to give up 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.980 all these things 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:03.000 so that I can serve God 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.359 and I can do 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:05.899 what he calls me 00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:06.740 to do? 00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.179 The requirement 00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:08.879 of sacrifice 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.860 comes to this rich man 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:12.780 and he can't meet it. 00:18:13.080 --> 00:18:13.460 He says, 00:18:13.560 --> 00:18:14.420 no, that's a step 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.120 too far. 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.420 I'm not able 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.720 to make that sacrifice. 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:19.380 I want to hang on 00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:20.880 to what I've got. 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.060 And the challenge 00:18:22.060 --> 00:18:22.660 of requirement 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.380 of sacrifice 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.560 comes to us 00:18:24.560 --> 00:18:25.180 this morning 00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.280 as well. 00:18:27.280 --> 00:18:27.820 So the man 00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:29.260 goes away sad 00:18:29.260 --> 00:18:31.500 and the Lord Jesus 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:33.220 uses what he said 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:35.140 as being an example 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.220 and a lesson 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.820 for others. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:39.560 And he talks 00:18:39.560 --> 00:18:40.840 about the rarity 00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:42.220 of sacrifice, 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.140 how difficult 00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:43.880 it is 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:44.520 to make 00:18:44.520 --> 00:18:45.240 that kind 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.320 of sacrifice. 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.360 He uses a very 00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:48.360 striking illustration. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.620 A camel 00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:50.160 would have been 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.720 the biggest creature 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.720 that people 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.220 would have been 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.000 familiar with 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.220 in Israel 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:56.420 in Jesus' day. 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.980 It was the biggest 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.460 animal 00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.640 they would see around. 00:19:00.760 --> 00:19:01.720 The eye of the needle 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.780 was probably 00:19:02.780 --> 00:19:03.960 the smallest hole 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.840 that they could 00:19:04.840 --> 00:19:06.300 easily think about. 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.759 So Jesus said, 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.579 take the biggest 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.259 animal you can 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.680 think of, 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.180 a camel, 00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.619 think of the smallest 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.259 hole you can 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.799 think of, 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.819 the eye of a needle. 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.359 Can the camel 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:15.899 get through 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:16.759 the eye of the needle? 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:17.940 No. 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.899 It is that difficult, 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.599 said Jesus, 00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:22.460 for a rich person 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.440 to enter 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.319 the kingdom 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:25.519 of God. 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:26.759 Now this really 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.599 throws the disciples 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:29.220 because they look 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.220 at this rich man 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.220 and they think 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:32.139 he's the kind 00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:32.799 of person 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.659 who should be 00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.240 getting into 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:34.659 the kingdom 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.300 of God. 00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:36.500 He's wealthy, 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.279 he's had God's 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:37.640 blessing, 00:19:38.060 --> 00:19:39.019 he's a good man, 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.460 surely he can get in 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.360 and if he can't, 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.340 who can? 00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:43.740 So they're not 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.360 sitting thinking 00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.040 as we might 00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:45.680 sometimes, 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.400 well it's difficult 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:46.980 for the rich 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.720 to get to heaven 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.680 but the poor 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.540 perhaps is a bit 00:19:49.540 --> 00:19:50.040 easier. 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.200 No, 00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:52.120 they're thinking 00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:53.120 it is impossible 00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:54.340 if this is the case 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.400 for anyone 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.400 to get 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.820 into heaven. 00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.880 And Jesus says, 00:20:00.300 --> 00:20:01.140 you're right. 00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:02.600 You're right 00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:03.160 if you think 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:04.279 in human terms 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.519 but you're not 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.600 right if you think 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:08.580 in God's terms. 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.920 What man 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.840 can't do 00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:12.700 what is impossible 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.500 with men 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:15.279 is possible 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.120 with God. 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:18.840 And we come back 00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:19.500 again to where 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.200 we were with the 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:20.580 children 00:20:20.580 --> 00:20:22.200 of recognizing 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:22.920 there are some 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:23.540 things that we 00:20:23.540 --> 00:20:24.320 can't do 00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:25.440 and in particular 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.279 we can't save 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.700 ourselves, 00:20:26.820 --> 00:20:27.800 we can't win 00:20:27.800 --> 00:20:28.420 God's favor 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.120 by trying to 00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:29.900 outweigh our bad 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.560 things with our 00:20:30.560 --> 00:20:31.200 good things 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.340 that just won't 00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:32.660 work. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.200 God demands 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.720 a perfect 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.259 standard 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.480 but if we 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.440 simply trust 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.120 in God 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:38.080 then he is 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:38.539 able to 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:38.960 bring us 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.640 that forgiveness 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:40.960 he is able 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.420 to give us 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:44.120 eternal life. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.279 And Jesus 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.620 is saying 00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:46.299 again here 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:47.500 you can't 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.100 do it 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.319 by yourself. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.660 However rich 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.340 or however poor 00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:52.160 you may be 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:53.120 however good 00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:53.759 you may think 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.259 you are 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.160 you can't 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:55.559 do it by 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:55.920 yourself. 00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:56.680 It's impossible 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.560 with men 00:20:57.560 --> 00:20:58.860 but it's 00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.299 possible 00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.160 with God 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:01.420 and if you 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.500 simply trust 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.700 in God 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:05.039 then you 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.320 have eternal 00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:06.820 life. 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:07.680 Doesn't take away 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.080 the requirement 00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:08.779 for sacrifice 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:10.180 having accepted 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.940 the Lord Jesus 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.640 having put our 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.279 trust in him 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:12.960 he calls us 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.880 to follow him 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:14.340 and to make 00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.080 sacrifices 00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:16.360 but the first 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.360 step is that 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:18.100 simple step 00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:18.720 of faith 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.759 of trusting 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:21.360 in the Lord 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:21.759 Jesus. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.059 us. 00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.400 And then finally 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.119 he talks about 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.819 the rewards 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:28.160 of sacrifice. 00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:30.220 I can almost 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.900 sense 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:31.400 sort of 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:32.339 almost desperation 00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:33.000 in Peter's 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.779 words in verse 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.279 28. 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:34.759 He says 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.539 we've left 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.519 all we had 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.660 to follow you. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:38.819 And I wonder 00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:39.319 if he's thinking 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:39.920 well we've done 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.500 all this 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.220 we've sacrificed 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:42.000 so much 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:42.960 is that going 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.519 to make any 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.059 difference 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.839 or are you 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.379 going to say 00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:45.879 that we're 00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.960 like the rich 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.400 ruler as well? 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.259 And Jesus 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.900 says 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:52.400 no it's 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:52.880 different. 00:21:53.800 --> 00:21:54.840 If you truly 00:21:54.840 --> 00:21:56.000 make sacrifices 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.640 for me 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.280 having first 00:21:57.280 --> 00:21:58.060 trusted in me 00:21:58.060 --> 00:21:58.620 if you truly 00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.600 make sacrifices 00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:00.300 for me 00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:01.340 then there 00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:02.820 are rewards. 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.040 And anyone 00:22:04.040 --> 00:22:04.460 who's left 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.340 home or wife 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:05.820 or brothers 00:22:05.820 --> 00:22:06.280 or sisters 00:22:06.280 --> 00:22:06.800 or parents 00:22:06.800 --> 00:22:07.440 or children 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:09.019 will receive 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.960 much more 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:10.940 many times 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.320 as much 00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:12.140 in this world 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:13.220 and in these 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.820 to come 00:22:13.820 --> 00:22:15.700 eternal life. 00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:16.980 I suspect 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.060 most of us 00:22:18.060 --> 00:22:19.019 aren't called 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.900 to leave home 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.460 wife 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:20.819 brothers 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.220 or sisters 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.700 or parents 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.240 or children 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.100 for the sake 00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:23.700 of the kingdom. 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.360 But some people 00:22:25.360 --> 00:22:25.720 aren't 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:26.200 some people 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.759 have been 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:28.120 in the past. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.559 My grandparents 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.400 were missionaries 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:30.860 in India 00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:32.059 for many years 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:33.160 and being 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.600 missionaries 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.460 in those days 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.079 meant that 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:35.799 to get anywhere 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.660 you had a journey 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.140 was probably 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:38.000 several weeks 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.720 up to a month 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.319 on a boat 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.180 to India 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.380 and back again. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.680 So they'd 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.220 left behind 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.860 parents 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:44.819 and if their 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.740 parents fell ill 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.120 or needed 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:47.019 urgent attention 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.000 they couldn't 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.680 get to them 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.339 quickly. 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:51.160 When they came 00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.140 back on furlough 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:53.079 and their 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.640 eldest three 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.099 sons 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:55.059 they left 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.519 behind 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.579 to be educated 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:56.819 and they 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.200 wouldn't see 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.099 them for 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.759 several years. 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.680 I don't think 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.099 we should look 00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.700 at that as being 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.279 in some way 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.859 heartless 00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.660 or uncaring. 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.119 I'm sure 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:06.420 there were 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.140 many nights 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:07.819 of tears 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:09.119 and of heartache 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.819 for those 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.079 who'd been 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:10.759 left behind. 00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:12.539 But it was 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.460 a sacrifice 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.640 worth making. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.360 They felt 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:16.860 that the 00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.279 words of 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:17.539 Jesus 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.059 needed to 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.480 be taken 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.120 seriously 00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:20.120 and they 00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:20.600 needed to 00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:21.000 be willing 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.620 to leave 00:23:21.620 --> 00:23:22.460 everything 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:24.039 for him. 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.720 Now Jesus 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:27.299 in a literal 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:27.840 sense we're 00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.299 not going 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:28.740 to be called 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.140 to make 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.860 that kind 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.660 of sacrifice 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.039 today. 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.620 Even if you 00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:32.620 go and work 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.059 in a far 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:33.680 away country 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.600 you can get 00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.180 back to the 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.819 UK very 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.980 quickly if 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.900 you need 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.160 to. 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.299 But I think 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:39.819 we need to 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:40.819 challenge ourselves 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.980 what kind 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.920 of sacrifices 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.960 should I 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.620 be making 00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.680 for Jesus. 00:23:46.300 --> 00:23:47.060 What is he 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:47.680 calling me 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.279 to do 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.960 that will 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.420 demonstrate 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:49.960 that he 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.460 is more 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.300 important to 00:23:51.300 --> 00:23:52.080 me than 00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:52.720 any of the 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.840 things of 00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.940 this world. 00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:56.580 And Jesus 00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:57.740 says if you 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.220 do that 00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:59.140 if you're 00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.519 willing to 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.000 count the 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.100 cost and 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:01.460 to make 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.340 the sacrifices 00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.720 then you 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.480 will be 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.300 rewarded. 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.200 Not entirely 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.640 clear what 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:08.220 Jesus means 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:08.720 when he says 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:08.960 they will 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.500 receive many 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.220 times as much 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.019 in this age 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.440 and to some 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.080 extent it 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:13.519 will be the 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.220 fellowship of 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.019 other Christians 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.880 and the 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.420 support that 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:16.880 we can give 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.220 to one 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.620 another. 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:18.620 To some 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:19.080 extent it 00:24:19.080 --> 00:24:19.500 will be the 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.059 peace and 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.620 joy of 00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:21.120 knowing that 00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:21.400 we are 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.240 serving Christ 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.259 and that 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.039 we are 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.700 doing what 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.360 pleases him 00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:25.620 and our 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.559 eternal future 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.660 is secure. 00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:28.660 But he 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.039 says he 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.700 won't be 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.580 in debt to 00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.000 us he will 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.519 give us 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.539 what we 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.000 need in 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.580 this world 00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.820 and then we 00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:35.440 will go 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.480 and be with 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.240 him in 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.220 eternal life 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.080 afterwards. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.820 Jesus calls 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.200 us to 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.419 make 00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:42.240 sacrifices 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.119 and I 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:43.460 think we 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:43.919 need each 00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:44.460 to challenge 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.059 ourselves if 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.460 we know 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.279 him, if 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:46.439 we are 00:24:46.439 --> 00:24:47.079 trusting in 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.319 him. 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.399 What kind 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:49.379 of sacrifice 00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:50.419 should I 00:24:50.419 --> 00:24:51.500 be making? 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.019 And as we 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.639 sit in front 00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.179 of a table 00:24:54.179 --> 00:24:54.879 with bread 00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:55.779 and with 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.220 the cups 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:56.679 on it 00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:57.359 we can 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.019 think something 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.359 of the 00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.139 sacrifice the 00:24:59.139 --> 00:24:59.700 Lord Jesus 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.720 made for 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.200 us and 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.539 how he 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.339 left behind 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:03.899 all the 00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.139 riches, 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:04.480 how he 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.299 in a very 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:05.859 real sense 00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.679 gave up all 00:25:06.679 --> 00:25:07.179 the riches 00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.939 that he had 00:25:07.939 --> 00:25:08.779 and took a 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.240 life of 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.700 poverty, 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.640 how he 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:10.980 humbled 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.740 himself and 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.220 died on 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.700 the cross 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.319 for us 00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.180 and took 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.920 our sins 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.080 on himself 00:25:16.080 --> 00:25:16.799 there. 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:17.740 As we 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.039 look at 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.019 his sacrifice 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.000 then that 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.279 should be 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.880 the prompt 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.700 for us 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.160 to think 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.039 what can 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.620 I give 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.100 to him 00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:25.100 and what 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:25.799 can I 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.700 sacrifice 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.660 for the 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.160 Lord's 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.640 sake? 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.140 What is 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.480 it that 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.019 he's calling 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.880 me to 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.080 do? 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:31.580 He doesn't 00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.080 call everyone 00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:32.360 to give 00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:32.620 up your 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:32.900 money. 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.500 That's 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:33.940 quite clear. 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.160 There are 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:34.519 lots of 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.000 rich people 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.240 in the 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:35.680 Bible who 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:35.980 are not 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.779 called to 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.080 give up 00:25:37.080 --> 00:25:37.700 their money. 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.680 But what 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.240 is it 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.079 that Jesus 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:41.240 is calling 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.420 me to 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:42.700 do? 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.099 So a bit 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.279 of an 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.859 upside down 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.460 world isn't 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:46.720 it? 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.640 An upside 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.180 down world 00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:48.819 where children 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.480 suddenly have a 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.480 huge importance 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.579 before Jesus 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:53.319 and a rich 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.559 ruler, a 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.140 respectable 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:56.460 person goes 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.319 away sad 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.200 because he 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.839 can't do 00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.500 what's needed 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.240 to get 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.819 acceptance 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:02.279 into God's 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:02.980 kingdom. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.400 Lest this 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.160 morning all of 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.019 us think 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.700 about do I 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.220 have that 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:08.259 simple faith 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.180 that Jesus 00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.779 requires, 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.279 the faith 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:10.600 of a 00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:11.880 child simply 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.720 trusting? 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.380 And if I 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:15.500 do, am I 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:15.980 willing to 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.259 be a 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.840 sacrificial 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:18.279 follower and 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:18.840 to go 00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:19.759 wherever Jesus 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.519 tells me to 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:20.900 go and to 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.920 do whatever 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.840 he calls me 00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:23.660 to do? 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.480 Pray that God 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.279 will help us 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.240 to understand 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.740 his word and 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.120 to be 00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:29.360 obedient to 00:26:29.360 --> 00:26:29.600 it. 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.440 Let's pray 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:30.840 together. 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:34.720 As we 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.179 pray, let's 00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:35.819 just quietly 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.699 reflect on 00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:37.439 what we've 00:26:37.439 --> 00:26:37.939 been thinking 00:26:37.939 --> 00:26:38.379 about, 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:39.919 reflect on 00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:40.419 whether we 00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:40.819 have that 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.720 simple trust 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.159 in the 00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:42.740 Lord Jesus 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.819 that brings 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.720 eternal life 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.980 and whether 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.379 we are 00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:46.859 willing to 00:26:46.859 --> 00:26:47.220 make the 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:47.899 sacrifices 00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:48.839 that he 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.359 might call 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:49.799 us to. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.980 Lord Jesus, 00:26:52.159 --> 00:26:52.779 we thank you 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.119 for the 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:53.859 sacrifice that 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.179 you made 00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:54.720 for us. 00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:55.799 We thank 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:56.220 you that you 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:56.579 gave up 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.279 everything to 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:57.619 come and 00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:57.959 live in 00:26:57.959 --> 00:26:58.599 this world, 00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.439 to live a 00:26:59.439 --> 00:27:00.220 simple life 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.100 in humble, 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:01.600 poor 00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:02.400 circumstances 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.600 and even 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:03.940 to give 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.519 that up 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.380 and to 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.019 die our 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.980 death on 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.559 the cross. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.579 We pray that 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.019 you will help 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.740 all of us 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.640 to come to 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.220 that point 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:11.880 of faith, 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.980 of recognising 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.500 there's nothing 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.299 that we can 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:14.880 do to save 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.380 ourselves. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.299 We simply 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.700 need to 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.200 trust in 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.519 you and 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:18.880 then to 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:19.339 be willing 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.100 to give 00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:21.100 everything to 00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:21.400 you, 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.319 to be your 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:22.740 followers, 00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:23.660 to be 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.319 sacrificial 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.259 in the way 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.779 we live. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.519 We thank 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:26.680 you for 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.200 your presence. 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:27.880 We commit 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:28.400 ourselves to 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.500 you now as 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:29.839 we move 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.220 into this 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:30.619 time of 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.000 communion 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.779 and as 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.259 we particularly 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.939 remember your 00:27:32.939 --> 00:27:33.779 death for us. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.740 We give you our 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.220 thanks Lord 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.839 Jesus in 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.319 your name. 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.359 Amen.